![]() ![]() There is a mixture of traditional palapas and shade sails for shade. Along the water under palm trees are a string of public beach resorts lined with beach loungers. Just outside the complex are the open air shuttle buses that take 24 passengers two miles into the village of Mahahual for $4 per person. “Good prices today” “Almost free today, Mister”. The design of the complex is a bit of a maze that takes you past most of the shops and the vendors stand outside to entice you in with their light hearted quips. Local villagers dress up like ancient Mayans for pictures and a group of them ride the rotating swinging pole. In addition to the shops there is entertainment for ship passengers. They include T-shirt, leather, ceramic, jewelry, spirits and other shops. There is a shuttle for those who cannot or do not want to walk that distance.Īt the end of the docks is a shopping complex consisting of several dozen shops, a multiple pool and water park, seven restaurants and five bars. The walk down the dock takes about 10 minutes. Crystal and Celebrity ships were already at dock when we arrived. The cement dock accommodates three ships at a time. Cruise industry inspectors approved the new port and town, and the new Puerto Costa Maya received its first ships in 2009. ![]() Within two years, a new cement dock and the Malecon, a two mile concrete oceanfront pedestrian walkway, with underground utilities, controlled drainage and new lighting were built.Ī state of the industry sewage treatment facility was installed. Fortunately Mexico had just approved a master plan for infrastructure improvement to the area. In August 2007, the category 5 hurricane Dean completely destroyed the port and the small village of Mahahual. By 2006, the port was the second busiest in Mexico with 600 ships stopping that year. The port opened in 2001, built by a private developer in partnership with the Mexican government. Our ship is docked at Puerto Costa Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, four hours south of Cancun and a few hours north of Belize. Looking out from the ship pool deck a green carpet of 30 foot trees extends as far as I can see. ![]()
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